These have been seen before, but now with a dedicated thread you can see them all again! and yes it is Gary Fishers fuel tank in back of truck, as you can see him here working on his TZ700 without the tank.1974 @ Brands HatchPhoto Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Mike Baldwin USA 1978, what might of happened in his career if he had not broken his leg a few weeks later?Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

The only time I really watched Mike Baldwin ride was during qualy for the Spanish GP in 1979. Roberts, Herron and Baldwin were battling for pole, all three holding the advantage at some point in the final 10 minutes. Herron, trying to reclaim the advantage which he had held for most of the session, crashed towards the end of the session. I stand corrected here, as my memory is probably a bit wonky these days, but I have a feeling he ousted Roberts to claim the pole. What a tremendous performance. In the race he hounded Roberts, overtaking him on numerous occasions, until the difference in machinery began to take it´s toll. I can´t actually remember the final result, other than Roberts winning, but Mike Baldwin left an indelible impression on me that day. Superb rider. I wonder what happened to him?

The only time I really watched Mike Baldwin ride was during qualy for the Spanish GP in 1979. Roberts, Herron and Baldwin were battling for pole, all three holding the advantage at some point in the final 10 minutes. Herron, trying to reclaim the advantage which he had held for most of the session, crashed towards the end of the session. I stand corrected here, as my memory is probably a bit wonky these days, but I have a feeling he ousted Roberts to claim the pole. What a tremendous performance. In the race he hounded Roberts, overtaking him on numerous occasions, until the difference in machinery began to take it´s toll. I can´t actually remember the final result, other than Roberts winning, but Mike Baldwin left an indelible impression on me that day. Superb rider. I wonder what happened to him?

He did end up on the Lucky Strike Yamaha alongside Mamola 1986, then had an RS500 (that might have been before the Yamaha? ?) It was 1984.But he lost about a season and a half with his broken leg if I recall correctly?Photo Copyrighted to Graham Etheridge, racebikepics.

Yes indeed, a long and distinguished career he had, this Mr Baldwin Including factory rides for Kawasaki and Honda in the US, and for Yamaha in Grand Prix . I think his career more or less stopped due to another ( .... ) serious injury in 1987, as he was into his second year with the Roberts team . He was not there at the 1987 French GP that I attended, replaced by Kiwi Richard Scott on the Lucky Strike Yamaha.

As Rhodie wrote, he was brilliant in the first races of the 1979 season, aboard the Serge Zago Suzuki on which he mixed with the factory machines. Sadly he broke his leg in a US Championship race I think ( weird situation of being an official Kawasaki rider in the States, and a Suzuki privateer in Europe ) and he was replaced on the Zago Suzuki by a red-hair freckled face american teenager who had just lost his official Bimota ride - as is often the case, Baldwin's loss was Mamola's gain since Randy featured well on the bigger machine ( I remember him fighting all the way with Sheene and Roberts at the season-closing 1979 French GP ) and that certainly was the stepping stone for him to join the official Suzuki-Heron squad for 1980 .

Back in the day I used to like Peter Williams on the John Player Norton, as well as Sheene, Baker, Grant, Rocket Ron - I could go on! Ok, I will. Virginio Ferrari, Wil Hartog, Marco Luchinelli and that Dutch rider who rode for Kawasaki...

This was on the old thread but I think it belongs on here as well, it is taken from one of the daily papers Star or Sun? and is still on the wall in grandad's garage.

By the way loved the Transatlantic trophy, remember falling out of a tree whilst watching from the paddock at Mallory and falling into one of the lakes! Steve H was in the GB team which would make it early 80's and me about 10!

Well since I've been able to find some of the US riders recently (who are just as enthusiastic about the "Good Old Days" ) I thought I'd send out some invites and hopefully have a few tales from this side of the pond There's never been anything quite like the match Races

Well since I've been able to find some of the US riders recently (who are just as enthusiastic about the "Good Old Days" ) I thought I'd send out some invites and hopefully have a few tales from this side of the pond There's never been anything quite like the match Races

David

I'll agree with that !!! , Danny !! bring 'em on .................. they might even be able to guess some of my Daytona pics

Randy was at Brands over the weekend with his lad Dakota (racing in the 125GP class) he was interviewed & was waxing lyrical about his early days here (UK) & the Trans Trophy races, really nice to hear his thoughts!

I think the thing is that the riders out here in those days had to do all of the disciplines and that was part of the contract so the chance to race at world level didn't really happen very often. I'm really only just getting used to how big the USA is and when looking at where to race is a task in itself. There are different regions etc and to campaign across the whole country costs a fortune. Akin to doing Europe and not just Britain. The dirt riding is truly awesome if you haven't seen it, once the rubber gets laid down the lean angles get silly and the racing is so close. Some very big nuts there
Anyway, I seem to remember a few of them doing quite well